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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Fraser Wilson

Karl Robinson interests Hibs as manager hunt steps up but Ron Gordon decides against Derek McInnes

Hibs will begin interviews for their vacant manager’s post this week - but Derek McInnes has not made Ron Gordon’s shortlist.

Record Sport understands there is interest in Oxford United boss Karl Robinson from Easter Road.

But Kilmarnock boss McInnes will not be in the running despite shooting to the top of the bookies’ favourites over the weekend following his title success at Rugby Park.

There has been no contact between Hibs chiefs and Killie or McInnes.

And after discussions to step up the manager hunt at Easter Road over the past 24 hours, owner Gordon won't be pursuing the former Aberdeen manager.

The Hibs supremo flew in to Scotland on Saturday and took in the 1-1 draw with Aberdeen before addressing the players in the dressing room afterwards and holding separate talks with interim boss David Gray.

One name believed to be of serious interest to Hibs as they hunt Shaun Maloney ’s successor is that of Robinson who guided Oxford to an eighth place finish in League 1 this season.

The 41-year-old has been in charge of The U’s since 2018 having previously managed Charlton and MK Dons and is seen as one of the brightest young managers in the lower leagues down south.

Hibs are set to open the official interview process in the coming days after Gordon’s recruitment chief son Ian and chief executive Ben Kensell spent the best part of two weeks speaking to targets down south.

Hibs Executive Chairman Ron Gordon (SNS Group)

They are also looking at the foreign market while closer to home Ross County boss Malky Mackay and recently departed Lincoln City manager Michael Appleton have been strongly linked with the job.

Interim boss Gray will continue in charge for the final two matches of the season starting away to Dundee this evening.

The 34-year-old Hibees hero has been given no assurances over his own long-term future by Gordon.

But he said: “We briefly caught up after the game on Saturday, he flew in just beforehand and hadn’t slept much.

“It was a catch up more than anything. He’s going to be very busy in the next few days as are we preparing for the two games.

“It’s myself and Eddie until the end of the season and that’s not going to change.

“Whether something happens in between then is entirely up to the club and the board moving forward.

“The message has always been that they will take their time to make the right appointment which I’m sure they will do.

"My future can wait until they know exactly what's happening.

(SNS Group)

"It's still a wee bit up in the air but as far as I'm concerned I've got a job to do between now and the end of the season, and I'll continue to do that to the best of my ability until I'm told to do something different.

"The new manager will have his own ideas.

"I've always said it's a fantastic club, it's got an incredible fanbase, it's a fantastic city, great facilities, a great stadium, and a really good squad of players at the moment.

“With a few additions - and the new manager will have one or two ideas - success will just be around the corner for the club.

"It's a really attractive job which is why there have been so many big names linked with the club and I expect there to be so until the new man has been appointed."

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